Djurgården won the first eighth-final against Malmö in overtime with a controversial goal by Anton Frondell. The referees reviewed the goal and allowed it, citing that the Djurgården player was 'always in motion'. The SHL and the head of referees admitted on their website that it was an incorrect call to allow Djurgården's goal against Malmö.
This incident was not isolated, as other disputed goals and officiating issues have surfaced in recent SHL games. Malmö had a goal disallowed early in a game against Djurgården, similar to Djurgården's controversial decisive goal in a previous match. In that same game, Fredrik Händemark scored a goal for Malmö that was immediately reviewed and disallowed, leading to boos in Malmö Arena.
Malmö later won a game against Djurgården 2-1 on home ice, but the decisive goal by William von Barnekow was preceded by a missed offside. Gais had a goal by Samuel Salter disallowed for offside in a game against Djurgården, and TV images suggested the decision was wrong. Experts Simon Thern and Jens Fjällström argued the disallowed goal was onside, adding to the controversy.
Additional playoff officiating controversies have affected multiple teams beyond the Malmö-Djurgården series. Rögle took a 1-0 lead against Växjö early in the game, but the goal was preceded by a suspected offside. Rögle won the game against Växjö 3-2 with a millimeter goal, and Växjö later had an equalizer disallowed.
Färjestad had a goal disallowed in a decisive quarterfinal because the referee blew the whistle too early. Södertälje lost to Björklöven in overtime, and coach Andreas Johansson was irritated over a penalty for too many men on the ice. In a semifinal between Björklöven and SSK, Axel Ottosson had a goal disallowed because the referees ruled he caused the goalie to drop his stick.
Amid these controversies, Malmö managed key moments in their games. Filip Björkman scored to make it 1-0 for Malmö early in the game against Djurgården. A full Hovet arena celebrated after a costly penalty against Malmö's Lauri Pajuniemi in overtime gave Djurgården a power play opportunity.
Malmö also won a quarterfinal game against Skellefteå in overtime with a goal by Topi Niemelä. Video review decisions have played a pivotal role, with explanations often fueling debate. Skellefteå's equalizing goal by Oscar Vuollet was allowed after video review, with the reasoning that there was no distinct kicking motion.
The week featured high-scoring games and offensive highlights across the league. There were seven games with at least seven goals or more between Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. The Saturday game between Oskarshamn and HV71 had a six-goal second period with both teams scoring three goals each.
It was a small kicking motion but it came after, and he was pretty sure it was a goal.
On Sunday, Malmö Redhawks defeated Brynäs in a high-scoring game, tied at four after two periods, with Malmö scoring four goals in the third period. Overall, there were 111 goals scored over 18 games this week. Overtime thrillers and dramatic finishes added to the playoff excitement.
On Thursday, Timrå defeated HV71 4-3 in overtime with Joey Lallegia scoring the overtime winner. On Thursday, Oskarshamn defeated Frölunda 5-4 in overtime with David Quenneville scoring the overtime winner with less than a minute remaining. Rögle led a game 5-0 at the end of the first period but collapsed to 5-5 and lost in overtime.
Örebro delivered a strong performance, securing crucial playoff positioning. Örebro secured crucial points against Rögle in overtime. David Quenneville scored the overtime winner with a slap shot for Örebro against Rögle.
Felix Nilsson and Josh Dickinson scored goals for Rögle against Örebro. Glenn Gustafsson scored the equalizer with less than six minutes left to send the game to overtime. Örebro took five points from two matches in Skåne.
On Thursday, Örebro defeated Leksand 4-3 in regulation time. Örebro is two points ahead of HV71, who are below the qualification line. Individual player performances and achievements stood out amid the team battles.
Linus Söderström posted his first shutout of the season with 28 saves against Färjestad. Oscar Möller is the MVP of the week for the second week in a row, with two goals and three assists in Skellefteå's back-to-back victories against Färjestad. Oscar Möller is tied atop the points leaderboard and tied for the league lead in goals with four.
Team roster moves included strategic signings as clubs prepare for playoff runs. Malmö Redhawks have signed a new deal with goalkeeper Daniel Marmenlind. 905 SV%, and is 3-1 in four games this year.
Reactions from officials and league administration to the controversies have been limited, but the admission of error in the Djurgården-Malmö case highlights ongoing scrutiny. The implications for playoff integrity and competitive fairness are under discussion, as repeated officiating errors could affect team outcomes and fan confidence. Unresolved questions about video review procedures and potential future changes remain, with calls for clearer guidelines and consistency in decision-making across games.